§ Mr. StrawTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the estimated number of remand prisoners who have been awaiting trial (a) for more than three months, (b) for more than six months (c) for more than 12 months and (d) for more than 18 months at the latest available date.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythResponsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Jack Straw, dated 14 December 1994:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking what is the estimated number of remand prisoners who have been awaiting trial (a) for more than three months, (b) for more than six months, (c) for more than 12 months and (d) for more than 18 months, at the latest available date.The latest available provisional data is for 30 September 1994 and is shown in the attached table.
Inmates recorded as being untried held in custody on 30 September 1994 by time on remand1 Number For over 3 months up to and including 6 months 1,920 For over 6 months up to and including 12 months 1,270 For over 12 months up to and including 18 months 300 For over 18 months 220 1 Not all of these defendants will have been in continuous prison custody since their first remand. This period excludes any time spent in non-Prison Service Establishments (eg police cells) before reception on remand into a Prison Service establishment; it excludes inmates who are awaiting trial and those being tried.